The final parable Jesus utters in Matthew is not actually much of a parable. We call it the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats, but other than referring to them in passing, the sheep and the goats have nothing to do with it and he’s almost entirely devoted to explaining it. It’s as though … Continue reading The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
In Matthew’s Gospel, as Jesus’ time with his disciples winds down, he tells his disciples three parables about the last judgment (or, God’s ultimate justice). Last time, we looked at the Parable of the Bridesmaids, with its message to be prepared. Today we’ll look at the second of the three, the Parable of the Talents … Continue reading The Parable of the Talents
Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem turned up the heat on everyone, from Jesus himself to his disciples to the religious authorities, to the crowds, to the Romans. In this context, Jesus has gotten into a battle of will and wits with the Temple leaders and Pharisees, as though he’s trying to make every moment count … Continue reading The Parable of the Bridesmaids
The last couple of parables we’ve looked at here in Matthew have threaded the line between grace and judgment. But today we move headlong into the parables of judgment, with the Parable of the Tenants in the Vineyard. It’s a text that’s important to me, but also one that has a long history of antisemitic … Continue reading The Parable of the Tenants in the Vineyard
Last time, we rewound and started joining Matthew’s account of Jesus’ travels to Jerusalem with the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. Today we we continue that journey with another parable of both grace and judgment, the Parable of the Day Labourers. Text As found in Matthew 20.1-16, the parable goes like this: [20.1] The Kingdom … Continue reading The Parable of the Day Labourers
Matthew Root 